Adjuvant chemoradiotherapy for resected pancreas cancer

The purpose of this article is to review pertinent literature assessing the evidence regarding adjuvant chemoradiotherapy for adenocarcinoma of the pancreas following curative resection. This review looks at randomized controlled studies with the emphasis on adjuvant chemoradiotherapy. In assessing the evidence from the studies reviewed in this article, the trials have been grouped according to the positive or negative results for or against adjuvant treatment. In addition, data from two large, single-institution studies affirming the role for adjuvant chemoradiotherapy has been included. Understanding the evidence from all of the randomized studies is important in shaping current practice recommendations for adjuvant therapy of surgically resected pancreas cancer. Adjuvant chemoradiotherapy following surgery is the current approach at many cancer treatment centers in the United States. In Europe, chemotherapy alone is the preferred adjuvant therapy. However, the type of adjuvant treatment recommended remains controversial due to conflicting study results. The debate will likely continue. Current practice should be based on the weight of evidence available at this time, which is in favor of adjuvant chemotherapy with chemoradiotherapy.